Electrical plug



Oct.- -11, 1927. 1,644,767

H. J. ZIMMERMANN ELECTRICAL PLUG Filed May 22 1922 I I? 77 %1zyen oPatented Qct. 11,1927.

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HANS J. zriwiiannntsnn, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, gestation Tov ELLIOTT w.n'nrntnn.

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Application filed May 22,

The present invention relates to an elec trical plug which is adapted toconnect con; ducting wires to an electrical socket such as a lampsocket, basereceptacle, or other similar device in which the conductingwires are to be connected.

In the usual forms of electrical plugs with which I am familiar whichare adapted for connection with a threaded socket, the plug itself isthreaded and when the same is attached to a threaded socket it isnecessary to screw the plug into the socket to obtain the electricalconnection. I I

In the present form of socket the same may be secured to a threadedsocket by merely pushing the plug into the socket where it will beretained, all this being accomplished without the necessity of anyturning or screwing action whatsoever.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which'Fig. 1 is an elevation of the plug withcertain portions broken away Fig. 2 is an elevation of the plug taken atright angles to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of theplug. Fig. 1 is an elevation with portions in section of the plug withthe outer casing removed. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the showing inFig. 1.] Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the device with certainparts omitted. Fig. 7 "is a section which is taken on the line' 7'-'-7and 7 4 of Fig. 4:.

The device, comprises a body portion 1 which has a base 2 withupstanding side members 3 and 4: and these side members at their upperends are connected with a head portion 5. Through the head portion thereextends a conducting rod 6 which has a head 7 that is upon the outsideand at the top of the member 6, and this rod at its lower end isthreaded for receiving a nut 8 which when tightened against the underside of the head 7 holds the rod 6 in place. There is also another nut 9threaded upon the rod 6 and between the rods 8 and 9 there may besecured one end of a conductor 10 which at its opposite ends is secured.to a binding post 11 which post has portion 11 that extends through thebase 2, and beyond the base the portion 11 is threaded to receive thenuts 11 and 11 the nut 11 serving to hold the. portion 11 within thebase and the nut- 11 serving to secure one end o a conductor12.

1922. Serial No. 562,628.

faces of the members 3"and 4:, so that'in as I sembled condition theouter surfaces of the members 3', 4, 14 and 15, are essentiallycylindrical in form. A spring member which has a portion thereof coiledto form an eye 16 and arm members 16 and 16, is mounted so that the eyeportions sur rounds the pin 13 and the arms 16 and 16 engage with theinner surfaceofthe pivoted members 15 and 14 respectively, normallyurging these members outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4:. 1 y

There is a binding post 17 which has'a portion extendingthrough the base:2, and at its outer-end is provided with nuts 17 and 17 which issimilar in construction and function to the binding post 11 and theparts associated therewith. Co-operating with the head of thebindi ngpost 17 there are one or more leaves or strips 18 which bear against thepivoted member 15. These strips being of conducting; material andthemember 15 bein'gof conducting metal', form an electrical con nectionbetween the binding post 17 and the pivoted member 15.

The members 14 and 15 at their outer ends are provided with members 15and 1 1 which may be describedas jaws, and each of these members uponthe outer surface thereof is provided with portions of threads asindicated at 14t and 15". I

It should be noted that the base 2 ant the upstanding side members 3 and4 and the head. 5 are formed of some material which is nonconducting,and the connecting wire 10 which ,connectsthe binding post 11 with therod 6 is carefully insulated.

The structure which has just been described is adapted to be mountedwithin a casing 20 which is preferably made of insulating material. Thiscasing is closed at its lower end except for anopening through which theconductors from the outside may" extend. The casing and the structurewithin the same may be connected to each other to avoid displacement bymeans of a short screw 21 which extends through a suitable opening inthe casing 20, and has the threaded end thereof within a threadedopening in the base 2, indicated at 22.

The upper portions of the upstanding members 3 and 4 have outwardlyextending flanges or ledges 3 and 4 which are rounded and are of adiameter to snugly fit within the casing 20.

It willbe noted that the outer ends of the jaws 144 and 15 arechampfered or rounded as indicated at 15 and 14.

, The spring arms 16 and 16 normally urge the pivoted members 14 and 15outwardly, and when the casing 20 is in place as indicated in Figs. 1and2 these pivoted arms are pushed outwardly and against the inner wallof the casing 20. I

It will be noted that the ends of the jaw members 145 and15' areslightly champfered or rounded at their ends as indicated at 14 and 15and therefore, when the jaws are presented to the open end of a threadedsocket, the jaws may be pushed inwardly by a straight motion, theresiliency of the spring arms 16 and 16 permitting inward movement ofthe jaws 14 and 15 during this pushing in. movement.- The plug is pushedinto a socket as far as it will go at which time the member 7 Willengage with the central electrode which is universally used in sockets,while the jaw members will be in engagement with the inner threadedconducting. shell which is always found in sockets. This will form theelectrical connection between the conductors attached to the plug andthe socket.

i It will be noted that the ends of the jaws 14 and 15 are of suchlengththat they -,can not contact with the conductor member 7,;but in theirmostinward position they will contact w1th the upper portion of thesignature.

member 6 which as before stated is formed of insulating material.

If it be found desirable to provide a means of manipulating or operatingthe pivoted the button extending through a hole or opening inthe casingwhich is of sutficient size to permit thebody portion to pass but retainthe head upon the inside of the casing. The heads of the'buttonmembers23 and 24 ill bear against the pivoted members 14 and 15 respectively,and when the button members are depressed they will movethe pivotedmembers 14 and 15 inwardly thereby moving the aw members inwardly, thuspermitting ready insertion in a socket.

I claim: I Y An electrical connecting plug comprising a body portion ofinsulating material having a base portion and spaced side portionsextending from the base, a central electrode mounted between the outerends of the side members, a pair of jaws oi conducting materialpivotally connected between the side members, terminal members on thebase connected to the electrode and jaws, a casing enclosing the bodyportion and a portion of the jaws, the outer end of the jaws projectingbeyond the end of thecasing and having retaining portions adaptedtoengage in a socket, resilient means normally urging the jaws apart andpush buttons projecting through the wall of the casing by means of whichthe jaws may be actuated in opposition to the yielding means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my HANS J. ZIMMERMANN.

